Fluid delivery system having pump systems, check valves and a removable patient interface

ABSTRACT

A fluid delivery system for delivery of an injection fluid to a patient generally includes a first pump system, a second pump system, a patient interface in removable fluid connection with the first and second pump systems, and a fluid path in fluid connection between the first and second pump systems and the patient interface. The fluid path preferably includes a housing member defining a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The first and second pump systems are placed in fluid connection with the respective first and second inlets of the housing member and the patient interface is placed in removable fluid connection with the outlet of the housing member. A first check valve is in fluid connection between an outlet of the first pump system and the first inlet of the housing member, and a second check valve is in fluid connection between an outlet of the second pump system and the second inlet of the housing member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/281,661,filed on Oct. 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,219, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/553,822, filed on Apr. 21, 2000,now U.S. Pat No. 6,471,674, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fluid delivery systems, to injectorsystems, and to methods of delivering fluids, and, more particularly, tomultipatient fluid delivery systems, to multipatient injector systemsand to methods of multipatient fluid delivery for use in medicalprocedures in which a fluid is delivered at a relatively high pressure.

In many medical procedures, such as drug delivery, it is desirable toinject a fluid into a patient. Likewise, numerous types of contrastmedia (often referred to simply as contrast) are injected into a patientfor many diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures. In some medicalimaging procedures (for example, computed tomography (CT), angiography,ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance/magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)), it is desirable to deliver a liquid such as contrast medium in atimed fashion under relatively high pressures. Such relatively highpressures and timed boluses are typically achieved through the use ofpowered injectors.

To, for example, optimize contrast volume delivery, minimize waste ofcontrast and facilitate injector procedures for operators, fluiddelivery systems that are capable of delivering sufficient contrast formultiple injection procedures from a single source of contrast haverecently been developed. Examples of such systems are describedgenerally in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,181, 5,806,519, 5,843,037 and5,885,216, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference. Typically, it is desirable that such fluid delivery systemsinclude a fluid path with a disposable patient interface that ischanged/discarded between each patient to reduce the potential forcross-contamination.

A fluid path connector is required to incorporate a removable/disposablepatient interface in the fluid path of a fluid delivery or injectorsystem. However, many fluid path connectors used in medical proceduresexhibit a number of substantial drawbacks including, for example,difficulty of use and difficulty in maintaining sterility. Moreover,when such connectors are used at high pressures, leakage and failurealso become substantial problems.

It is very desirable to develop fluid delivery systems including fluidpath connections for use at relatively high pressures that reduce oreliminate the drawbacks associated with current connectors and systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fluid delivery system for injecting aninjection fluid into a patient that includes generally: a first pumpsystem to pressurize the injection fluid; a patient interface inremovable fluid connection with the first pump system; and a fluid pathin fluid connection between the first pump system and the patientinterface. The fluid path preferably includes a connector. The firstpump system is in fluid connection with an inlet of the connector. Thepatient interface is in removable fluid connection with an outlet of theconnector. The connector preferably includes a sealing member at leastpartly disposed within a housing of the connector that is biased toclose the outlet when the patient interface is disconnected from theconnector. As used herein, the term “connection” and the phrase “fluidconnection” encompasses both direct and indirect connection and/or fluidconnection.

The sealing member preferably extends from an interior of the housing ofthe connector when the patient interface is disconnected therefrom to beat least generally flush with the outlet of the connector to facilitateaseptic cleaning of an outward facing surface of the sealing member. Thesealing member preferably prevents contaminants from entering theinterior of the connector housing when the patient interface isdisconnected from the connector. Preferably, an increase of pressurewithin the connector housing acts to improve a seal created by thesealing member when the patient interface is disconnected from theconnector. For example, such a pressure increase can increase the forcewith which the sealing member is biased to close the outlet of theconnector.

In one aspect of the present invention, the first pump system is asyringe that includes sufficient injection fluid for multiple injectionprocedures. The syringe can, for example, be a prefilled, disposablesyringe.

The fluid delivery system can further include a second pump system topressurize a fluid other than the injection fluid (for example, saline).The second pump system is preferably in fluid connection with thepatient interface through the connector.

An outlet of the first pump system is preferably in fluid connectionwith a first check valve to control flow of fluid into the first pumpsystem. Likewise, an outlet of the second pump system is preferably influid connection with a second check valve to control flow of fluid intothe second pump system.

The present invention also provides a kit for use in a procedure inwhich an injection fluid is delivered to a patient. The kit includesgenerally: a first syringe preferably having a volume to containsufficient injection fluid for at least two injection procedures; atleast one patient interface adapted to be in fluid connection with thepatient; and a fluid path adapted to removably connect the patientinterface to the first syringe. The fluid path preferably includes aconnector having an outlet adapted to removably connect the patientinterface thereto. The connector preferably further includes an inletadapted to connect the connector to the first syringe.

As described above, the connector may include a sealing member at leastpartly disposed within a housing of the connector that is biased toclose the outlet when the patient interface is not attached to theconnector. Preferably, the first syringe is prefilled with sufficientinjection fluid for at least two injection procedures. Preferably, thekit includes multiple patient interfaces. The kit can also include asecond syringe for injecting a fluid (for example, saline) other thanthe injection fluid.

The present invention also provides an injector system for injection ofa fluid into a patient. The injector system includes generally: apowered injector including a first drive member; a first syringeincluding a first plunger slidably disposed therein, the first syringebeing connected to the powered injector such that the first drive membercan impart powered motion to the first plunger; a patient interface inremovable fluid connection with the first syringe; and a connector asdescribed above. The injector system can further include a secondsyringe having a second plunger slidably disposed therein. The secondplunger is in powered connection with a second drive member of thepowered injector. The second syringe can, for example, be adapted toinject saline into the patient. Like the first syringe, the secondsyringe is preferably in fluid connection with the patient interfacethrough the connector.

The present invention further provides a method of injecting a fluidinto multiple patients including the steps of: providing a first pumpsystem containing fluid sufficient to inject at least two patients, thefirst pump system adapted to pressurize the injection fluid; providing aconnector in fluid connection with the first pump system, the connectorincluding a housing having an inlet, an outlet and a sealing member atleast partly disposed within the housing, the sealing member beingbiased to close the outlet to prevent fluid flow out of or into thefirst pump system; providing a patient interface operable to beremovably connected to the outlet of the connector to deliver the fluidto a patient; removably connecting the patient interface to the outletof the connector, whereby the patient interface opens the sealing memberto create a fluid path from the first pump system to the patient; andinjecting fluid from the first pump system into the patient. In oneaspect, the first pump system is a syringe prefilled with sufficientinjection fluid for at least two injection procedures.

The method preferably further includes the steps of: removing thepatient interface after the injection of injection fluid into thepatient; providing a second patient interface; aseptically treating theconnector; and connecting the second patient interface to the outlet ofthe connector.

The present invention, together with its attendant advantages, will befurther understood by reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a fluid delivery system of thepresent invention in which a patient interface is disconnected.

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of a fluid delivery system of thepresent invention in a fully connected state.

FIG. 2B illustrates the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2A in which salineis drawn into a saline syringe.

FIG. 2C illustrates the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2A in which thefluid path is primed.

FIG. 2D illustrates the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2A in which abolus of contrast is being injected.

FIG. 2E illustrates the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2A in which thefluid path is being flushed with saline.

FIG. 2F illustrates the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2A in which salineis once again drawn into the saline syringe after an injection procedureas described in FIGS. 2A through 2E.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side, cross-sectional view of a fluid pathconnector suitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a packaged kit of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a fluid (for example, contrastmedia) delivery system 100 of the present invention that is particularlysuitable for use in MRI. However, the fluid path delivery system of thepresent invention is equally applicable in other injection procedures,including, for example, ultrasound, CT and angiography.

The fluid path of fluid delivery system 100 preferably includes adisposable patient interface 200 a in releasable fluid connection withan interval fluid path 200 b. Interval fluid path 200 b is preferably influid connection with an outlet 310 of a pumping system, such as aninjector-powered syringe 300. An example of a powered injector andsyringe suitable for use in the present invention is the Spectris®Injector available from Medrad, Inc. of Indianola, Penn., which isdisclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 36,648, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference. Other suitable injectors are disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,677,980 and 5,383,858, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

Although the fluid delivery systems of the present invention aredescribed herein with the use of syringe pumps, other pumping systems,such as rotary pumps, in-line pumps and gear pumps, are also suitablefor use in the present invention. For example, the pumps disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,916,197 and 5,827,219, the disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference, may be suitable for use with thepresent invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, disposable patient interface 200 apreferably comprises a connector 220 for attachment, for example, to anintravenous (IV) catheter (not shown). Connector 220 may include ay-connector port 230 for “needleless” or “needle-free” aspiration, asknown in the art. For example, an operator may aspirate through port 230after the catheter is inserted into the patient to ensure that thecatheter is properly placed within a vein. Connector 220 is preferablyin fluid connection with a check valve 240 or other suitable means toensure unidirectional flow of the medium into the patient. Check valve240 is in fluid connection with flexible tubing 250 via, for example, aLuer connection 260 as known in the art. Flexible tubing 250 ispreferably in fluid connection (via, for example, a Luer connection 270)with the outlet of a connector 10 of interval fluid path 200 b.

Connector 10 is preferably suitable for use at the relatively highpressures experienced in the powered injection procedure without leakageor failure. Moreover, connector 10 is preferably suitable for repeateduse at the pressures experienced in such powered injection procedures.In one aspect, for example, connector 10 is preferably suitable towithstand a pressure of at least approximately 300 psi without leakageor failure. In general, pressures of up to approximately 300 psi can beexperienced in MRI, CT and ultrasound contrast delivery procedures.

If connector 10 and per patient interface 200 a of the present inventionare to be used in connection with other procedures, such as angiography,higher pressure specifications are preferred. In general, the highestpressures experienced in current powered injection procedures areexperienced in angiography, in which pressures can be as high asapproximately 1200 to approximately 1400 psi. Thus, if the flow path ofthe present invention is to be used in connection with an angiographyprocedure, connector 10 is preferably suitable to withstand a pressureof at least approximately 1200 psi (and, more preferably, at leastapproximately 1400 psi) without leakage or failure.

As used herein to describe fluid delivery system 100, the term“rearward” refers generally to a direction (along the longitudinal axisof syringe 300) toward the end of syringe 300 opposite syringe outlet310. The term “forward” refers generally to a direction toward syringeoutlet 310.

In general, connector 10 is used in the present invention to removablyconnect per-patient interface 200 a to interval fluid path 200 b offluid delivery system 100, As illustrated in FIG. 1, the releasablenature of connector 10 of the present invention allows patient interface200 a to be disconnected from connector 10 (for example, via Luerconnection 270) so that, for example, patient interface 200 a may bediscarded, preferably after each injection procedure. The removable ordisposable nature of patient interface 200 a assists in preventing crosscontamination between patients. The components of interval fluid path200 b, including connector 10, are preferably discarded at periodicintervals (for example, after use with several doses of injection fluidor after a predetermine amount of time) to preclude contamination of thefluid sources and cross-contamination between patients.

As described above, the inlet of connector 10 is preferably in fluidcommunication with an outlet or syringe tip 310 of syringe 300. In theembodiment of FIG. 1, a one-way check valve 410 connects syringe outlet310 to a port 422 of a three-port T-connector 420. A second port 424 ofT-connector 420 is connected to connector 10, while a third port 426 ofT-connector 420 is preferably in fluid connection with a second syringe500. In the case that saline or any fluid other than injection fluid ofsyringe 300 is not needed, connector 10 can be connected to check valve410 without intermediate three-port connector 420. Syringe 300 andsyringe 500 are preferably discarded on the same interval as intervalfluid path 200 b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, port 426 is preferably connected to tubing430 at one end thereof via, for example, a Luer connection 440. A secondend of tubing 430 is preferably connected to the outlet of a dual checkvalve 450 (or a transfer valve/check valve assembly) via, for example, aLuer connection 460. One inlet of dual check valve 450 is preferablyconnected to a source of saline 700 (see FIG. 2A) via, for example,tubing 550 and spike 600 (for example, a hyperal spike). The other inletof dual check valve 450 is preferably connected to outlet 510 of syringe500.

Operation of fluid delivery system 100 will be described with referenceto FIGS. 2A through 2F. FIG. 2A illustrates fluid delivery system 100 ina fully connected state. In this embodiment, syringe 300 is preferablyprefilled with sufficient contrast medium for two or more injectionprocedures. In one embodiment, for example, contrast syringe 300 had avolume of approximately 55 to approximately 60 ml. Typically, 10 to 20ml of contrast medium are injected in each MRI procedure.

A number of advantages are provided by multi-dose syringe 300 of fluiddelivery system 100 as compared to currently available systems. Likeother multiple dosing or multiple patient systems, fluid delivery system100 enables the delivery of one or more doses of injection fluid to oneor more patients, with the attendant advantages of multiple dosing.Unlike other multiple dosing systems, however, multiple dose syringe 300and the associated fluid path of the present invention enables multipledosing without requiring specialized equipment. In that regard, multipledose syringe 300 is easily designed for connection to many types ofinjectors (with or without the use of an adapter) as known in the art.

Furthermore, use of multiple dose syringe 300 reduces operator setuptime as compared to other multiple dosing systems. Preferably, syringe300 is prefilled (before delivery to the operator) with the injectionfluid to further reduce operator setup time and to reduce the potentialfor contamination during setup. Prefilled syringes are discussedgenerally in PCT Publication No. WO 98/20920, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

In FIG. 2A, plunger 520 of saline syringe 500 is advanced to its fullyforward position. FIG. 2B illustrates the rearward movement of plunger520 to draw saline into syringe 500 as represented by the flow arrows ofFIG. 2B. When plunger 520 is drawn rearward as represented in FIG. 2B,dual check valve 450 prevents fluid from tubing 430 from being drawninto saline syringe 500.

In FIG. 2C, forward motion of plunger 520 causes saline to flow throughthe fluid path, including tubing 430 and patient interface 200, asrepresented by the solid flow arrows. Such “priming” of the fluiddelivery path with saline is preferred, for example, to remove air fromthe fluid path and minimize wastage of contrast medium. Check valve 410prevents saline from entering contrast syringe 300. Plunger 320 ofcontrast syringe 300 is also preferably advanced sufficiently to primethe fluid path between syringe 300 and check valve 410 for injection ofcontrast. In that regard, a small amount of contrast can be injectedinto the fluid path as illustrated by the dashed flow arrows in FIG. 2Cto remove any air between syringe 300 and check valve 410.

After priming of fluid delivery system 100 as described above, thepatient interface 200 is connected to the patient by means of, forexample, a catheter. An operator may then, for example, begin a slowflow of saline to assist in assuring that the vein in which the catheter(not shown) is placed remains open (sometime referred to as akeep-vein-open or KVO process). Before injection of contrast, the flowof saline is preferably stopped.

Injection of a volume (i.e., infusion or bolus) of contrast isillustrated in FIG. 2D. During injection of contrast, plunger 310 ispreferably advanced in a manner to provide a predetermined flow rate andvolume of contrast. The flow of contrast through the fluid path isrepresented by the dashed arrows in FIG. 2D.

After injection of a volume of contrast as illustrated in FIG. 2D, thefluid path is preferably flushed with saline at approximately the sameflow rate as the contrast injection. The flow rate of the saline flushis preferably matched to approximately the same flow rate at which thecontrast was injected to assist in assuring that the entire amount ofcontrast injected from syringe 300 will travel through the fluid path(including patient interface 200) and the patient as, for example, a“tight” bolus with the desired flow rate. Generally, contrast for use inMRI and other injection procedures is quite expensive and it isdesirable to reduce waste thereof wherever possible by, for example,ensuring that no contrast remains in any portion of the fluid deliverypath. Moreover, the timing of the delivery of a predetermined volume ofcontrast bolus is typically very important in optimizing imageenhancement in the region of interest.

After flushing with saline, saline syringe 500 can be refilled asillustrated in FIG. 2F by retracting plunger 520. Once again, dual checkvalve 450 prevents fluid from tubing 430 from entering saline syringe500.

Additional injection procedures can then be conducted for the samepatient through the patient interface 200 in the same or similar manneras described above. If a different patient is to be injected, thepatient interface 200 is removed from the connector and preferablydiscarded, the connector is aseptically cleaned and a new patientinterface is connected to the connector. The fluid path and the patientinterface may then be primed, the new patient interface connected to thenew patient and the fluid injection performed.

Although described above for use in connection with prefilled syringes,the present invention is not limited to the case of prefilled syringes.Contrast can, for example, be periodically loaded into a syringe from asource of contrast medium in a similar manner as the loading of salineinto saline syringe 550 as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2F. Moreover, asdiscussed above, the contrast and/or saline pumping system need notinclude syringes. Other types of pumping systems, such as rotary pumps,in-line pumps and gear pumps, are suitable for use in the presentinvention. Such pumping systems can, for example, be connected to fluidsources such as bags or bottles, which may contain contrast, salineand/or therapeutic drugs. Furthermore, more than two pumping systems canbe in fluid connection with connector 10 using fluid connections (forexample, multi-port connectors) as known in the art.

As described above, the disposable nature of patient interface 200 aassists in preventing cross contamination between patients in the casethat multiple injections are performed using a single prefilled contrastsyringe or other pumping system/source of contrast. Furthermore, arelatively long length of tubing 250 is preferably used in patientinterface 200 a to further reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Inthat regard, migration of infectious agents through patient interface200 a to reach connector 10 can be greatly reduced or eliminated in useover a certain period of time by lengthening tubing 250. In oneembodiment, for example, tubing 250 had a length of approximately 96inches.

Because several different patient interfaces 200 a will be connected toand disconnected from connector 10 over the course of several injectionprocedures, connector 10 is preferably adapted to facilitate asepticcleaning or treatment thereof while in a disconnected state. Moreover,as discussed above, connector 10 is preferably suitable to withstand therelatively high pressures used in various injection procedures withoutfailure. Preferably, connector 10 is suitable to withstand even theexcessive pressure that would be generated if a pump system (forexample, one of or both of syringes 300 and 500) was erroneously engagedwhen patient interface 200 a was disconnected from connector 10.

An embodiment of a connector 10 suitable for use in the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 3. Connector 10 includes a housing 12,an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. Outlet 16 is defined generally by apassage or channel 18 formed in housing 12. A sealing member such as apin valve member 20 is biased outwardly within channel 18 to fillchannel 18 and thereby seal outlet 16. A base 22 of pin valve member 20can, for example, be biased against an annular sealing ring 26. Pinvalve member 20 can be biased in an outward, sealing direction by, forexample, a helical spring 30 disposed within housing 12. Pin valvemember 20 can further include a wiper seal 28 that seals the outerportion of channel 18 when pin valve member 20 is biased in a closedposition. Seal 28 substantially prevents contaminants from entering theinterior of housing 12 when patient interface 200 a is disconnected fromconnector 10.

The exterior surface of channel 18 is preferably tapered to accept themale portion of a Luer connection as known in the art. In general, themale portion of Luer connector 270 contacts a forward portion of pinvalve member 20. Application of rearward force by an operator causes pinvalve member 20 to move rearward and the male portion of Luer connector270 to enter channel 18. Via the Luer connection, patient interface 200a is connected to connector 10 to allow fluid to flow therethrough. Asdescribed above, port 424 of T-valve 420 is preferably connected toinlet 14 of connector 10.

In general, aseptic cleaning of connector 10 is facilitated by theposition of the top surface of pin valve member 20 relative to outletopening 16. In that regard, the top surface of a sealing member such aspin valve member 20 is preferably flush with or extends outwardly fromoutlet opening 16. A material carrying a disinfectant (for example, acotton ball) can easily clean the entire surface of pin valve member 20.Moreover, because channel 18 is normally in a closed/sealed state, theinterior of housing 12 is substantially protected from contaminationfrom any source in the surrounding environment (whether airborne or viafluid or other contact) when patient interface 200 a is disconnectedfrom connector 10.

Connectors 10 suitable for use in the present invention include theFiltertek Needlefree Connector, Product No. 68800, available fromFiltertek, Inc. of Hebron, Ill. see U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,413, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such connectorsare designed as “needle-free” connectors to be attached directly to amale Luer tip fitting of a manual syringe for use in relativelylow-pressure injections. In the present invention, however, theorientation of connector 10 is reversed from the case of its normal usein that one or more pumping systems (for example, syringes 300 and 500)are connected to inlet 14, which is normally the outlet in conventionaluse.

Other connectors suitable for use in the present invention include theULTRASITE® valve available from B. Burron Medical of Allentown, Penn.(see U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,451); the CLAVE™ connector available from ICUMedical Inc. of San Clemente, Calif. (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,685,866 and5,694,686); and the ALARIS SMARTSITE™ connector available from AlarisMedical Systems of San Diego, Calif. In each case, theorientation/direction of flow of connector 10 as used in the presentinvention is reversed from the standard use thereof. Moreover,modifications, such as reinforcement of connector housing, may berequired for use of the connector 10 at high pressure.

Connectors such as connector 10 that include an outlet (as oriented foruse in the present invention) and a sealing member that is biased in aclosed position are particularly suited for use in the case that apatient interface is to be removably attached to a pumping system in apowered injection procedure. For example, in addition to the advantagesdescribed above, connector 10 will prevent loss of contrast even ifsyringe 300 is erroneously engaged when patient interface 200 a isdisconnected from connector 10. Indeed, in the orientation of connector10 in the present invention, increased pressure within housing 12 actsto create an even stronger seal of channel 18 by pin valve member 20.Connector 10 is thus suitable for repeated use at relatively highpressures while maintaining a leakproof seal whether patient interface200 a is connected or disconnected thereto.

In several experiments, the needle-free connector of Filtertek, Inc.withstood pressures of approximately 500 psi before leakage and/orfailure. Such connectors can easily be adapted for use at higherpressures by, for example, increasing the thickness of the walls ofhousing 12.

FIG. 4 illustrates a packaged kit 700 for use in the present invention.In this aspect of the present invention, kit 700 preferably includessyringe 300 (in compartment 710 a) that is preferably prefilled withsufficient injection fluid for two or more injection procedures. Kit 700also preferably includes interval fluid path 200 b (in compartment 710b) and at least one per-patient disposable interface 200 a (incompartment 710 c).

Patient interface 200 a preferably includes at least one connector 10′for removable connection of a patient interface 200 a to syringe 300.Preferably, connector 10′ is of the type discussed above in connectionwith connector 10. However, other connectors are suitable for use in kit700. For example, such a connector is described in PCT Publication No.WO 99/38562, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

Preferably, kit 700 includes a plurality of patient interfaces 200 a. Inthat regard, kit 700 preferably includes at least as many patientinterfaces 200 b as injection fluid doses contained in syringe 300.

Kit 700 can, for example, be packaged in a polymeric form tray/lidcombination 750 as known in the packaging arts. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, kit 700 is intended for use in MRI procedures and preferablyfurther includes saline syringe 500 (in compartment 710 d).

To further reduce operator setup time and the potential forcontamination during setup, syringes 300 and/or syringe 500 can beconnected (removably or permanently) to interval fluid path 200 b (asillustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2F) in kit 700 before delivery/shipmentthereof. Permanently connecting syringe 300 to interval fluid path 200 balso may discourage reuse/refilling of syringe 300 after its designedinterval of use (for example, after two or three injection procedures)which may reduce the potential for patient cross-contamination.

Although the present invention has been described in detail inconnection with the above examples, it is to be understood that suchdetail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the followingclaims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes to thepresent invention that fall within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A fluid delivery system comprising: a first syringe operable to befilled with sufficient injection fluid for at least one injectionprocedure; a second syringe operable to be filled with sufficientinjection fluid for at least one injection procedure; a patientinterface in removable fluid connection with the first and secondsyringes; a fluid path in fluid connection between the first and secondsyringes and the patient interface, the fluid path comprising a housingmember defining a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet, the firstand second syringes being in fluid connection with the respective firstand second inlets of the housing member and the patient interface beingin removable fluid connection with the outlet of the housing member; afirst check valve in fluid connection between an outlet of the firstsyringe and the first inlet of the housing member; and a second checkvalve in fluid connection between an outlet of the second syringe andthe second inlet of the housing member.
 2. The fluid delivery system ofclaim 1 wherein the housing member comprises a sealing member at leastpartially disposed therewithin, the sealing member being adapted toextend outward from an interior of the housing member to be at leastgenerally flush with the outlet of the housing member to facilitatecleaning of an outward facing surface of the sealing member and beingbiased to close the outlet when the patient interface is removed fromfluid connection with the outlet of the housing member.
 3. The fluiddelivery system of claim 2 wherein the sealing member substantiallyprevents contaminants from entering the interior of the housing memberwhen the patient interface is removed from fluid connection with theoutlet of the housing member.
 4. The fluid delivery system of claim 2wherein an increase of pressure within the housing member acts toimprove a seal created by the sealing member when the patient interfaceis removed from fluid connection with the outlet of the housing member.5. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a spikemember in fluid connection with the first syringe, the spike memberoperable to be inserted into a fluid container.
 6. The fluid deliverysystem of claim 1, further comprising a spike member in fluid connectionwith the second syringe, the spike member operable to be inserted into afluid container.
 7. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, furthercomprising a fluid container in fluid connection with the first syringe.8. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a fluidcontainer in fluid connection with the second syringe.
 9. The fluiddelivery system of claim 1 wherein the patient interface comprises acheck valve.
 10. The fluid delivery system of claim 1, furthercomprising an injector to which the first and second syringes areconnected.
 11. The fluid delivery system of claim 1 wherein the firstsyringe or the second syringe is a multi-dose syringe.
 12. A fluiddelivery system comprising: an injector system; a first syringeconnected to the injector system and operable to be filled withsufficient injection fluid for at least one injection procedure; asecond syringe connected to the injector system and operable to befilled with sufficient injection fluid for at least one injectionprocedure; a patient interface in removable fluid connection with thefirst and second syringes; a fluid path adapted to be placed in fluidconnection between the first and second syringes and the patientinterface, the fluid path comprising a housing member defining a firstinlet, a second inlet and an outlet, the first and second syringes beingin fluid connection with the respective first and second inlets of thehousing member and the patient interface being in removable fluidconnection with the outlet of the housing member; a first check valve influid connection between an outlet of the first syringe and the firstinlet of the housing member; a second check valve in fluid connectionbetween an outlet of the second syringe and the second inlet of thehousing member; a first fluid container in fluid connection with thefirst syringe; and a second fluid container in fluid connection with thesecond syringe.
 13. The fluid delivery system of claim 12 wherein thepatient interface comprises a check valve.
 14. The fluid delivery systemof claim 12 wherein the housing member comprises a sealing member atleast partially disposed therewithin, the sealing member being adaptedto extend outward from an interior of the housing member to be at leastgenerally flush with the outlet of the housing member to facilitatecleaning of an outward facing surface of the sealing member and beingbiased to close the outlet when the patient interface is removed fromfluid connection with the outlet of the housing member.
 15. A fluiddelivery system comprising: a first pump system operable to deliversufficient injection fluid for at least one injection procedure; asecond pump system operable to deliver sufficient injection fluid for atleast one injection procedure; a patient interface in removable fluidconnection with the first and second pump systems; and a fluid path influid connection between the first and second pump systems and thepatient interface, the fluid path comprising a housing member, a firstcheck valve and a second check valve, the housing member defining afirst inlet, a second inlet and an outlet, the first and second pumpsystems being in fluid connection with the respective first and secondinlets of the housing member and the patient interface being inremovable fluid connection with the outlet of the housing member, thefirst check valve being in fluid connection between an outlet of thefirst pump system and the first inlet of the housing member, and thesecond check valve being in fluid connection between an outlet of thesecond pump system and the second inlet of the housing member.
 16. Thefluid delivery system of claim 15 wherein the first pump systemcomprises a syringe, a peristaltic pump, a rotary pump, an in-line pumpor a gear pump.
 17. The fluid delivery system of claim 15 wherein thesecond pump system comprises a syringe, a peristaltic pump, a rotarypump, an in-line pump or a gear pump.
 18. The fluid delivery system ofclaim 15 wherein the patient interface comprises a check valve.
 19. Thefluid delivery system of claim 15, further comprising: a first fluidcontainer in fluid connection with the first pump system; and a secondfluid container in fluid connection with the second pump system.
 20. Thefluid delivery system of claim 15 wherein the housing member comprises asealing member at least partially disposed therewithin, the sealingmember being adapted to extend outward from an interior of the housingmember to be at least generally flush with the outlet of the housingmember to facilitate cleaning of an outward facing surface of thesealing member and being biased to close the outlet when the patientinterface is removed from fluid connection with the outlet of thehousing member.